How to Land a Role in the Disney College Program: Pt. 2 The Interview

So you’ve submitted your application! WOOHOO!!! Now what?

There are two possible options from here. First, you get an email saying that after reviewing your application, Disney is no longer interested in you as a candidate for the DCP. Second, and far preferred, Disney sends you an email telling you that they have reviewed your application and think you might be a good fit. This email will also give you instructions for the next step.

In order to evaluate if you really are a good fit with Disney as a company, they have an online questionnaire they ask you to complete. It’s a sort of personality profile. If you’ve ever taken a personality test you’ll see some similar questions. The process takes around 45 minutes. And it’s timed. They don’t want you to obsess for 10 minutes and then answer the question. They want your first instinctive response. So you have to answer each question within a specific time period.

After you complete this questionnaire, there are two possible options. First, you get an email saying that based on your online questionnaire, Disney is no longer interested in you as a candidate for the DCP….or….You get an email asking you to schedule a phone interview. For me, after I submitted my application, within an hour I got my email to fill out the questionnaire. And within the next day or two, I had an email asking me to schedule a phone interview. Start to finish, I submitted my application and had a phone interview in a week’s time. This isn’t necessarily the same time frame for everyone.

Now…The phone interview…

I suggest you do what I did and search the internet. There’s no shortage of lists of interview questions people have been asked. But there are A LOT of different options. The recruiter will ask you questions based on the specific roles in which you expressed interest when you filled out your DCP application. Make sure you know which roles you listed and print out and know what the responsibilities are for those roles. Write out some experiences you’ve had at other jobs or in your schooling that might help you answer some of the questions from the recruiter. Prepare, Prepare, PREPARE!!!

Here are some questions they asked me:
1. Why do you want to participate in the Disney College Program?
2. Tell me about a time you worked with a difficult co-worker and how you handled that situation.
3. You expressed interest in working Attractions. What would you do if a child approached the ride and, upon measuring, was just a little too short for the ride? How would you handle the situation?
4. Tell me about a time you had to work with a team to achieve a common goal.
5. You’re working at Bibbity-Bobbity-Boutique and a parent brings their child back, disappointed with the service you have given. How do you handle the situation?
6. I was also asked specifically about experience I had as a Costumer and Photographer, since these were roles I was interested in. Be prepared to give convincing evidence of your competence.

After you have done all of your web searches and prepared your resume and experiences, take a deep breath and relax. Most importantly, smile during your interview! The recruiter does this A LOT. They can tell in your voice if you’re a happy person or a stressed person or have severe anger issues. Disney wants to hire happy people to give their guests the most magical experience possible.

Remember that you don’t have control over who Disney hires. But you do have control over your preparation and your attitude! Do what you can and then be confident with what you have to give!

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